| STEWARDSHIP—LIVING CHRISTIANITY
[ RADICALLY]
New World Articles
09-28-03
Tales of a tentative disciple in the first world
By Rich Goode
I often think of how different my life might be if I really took
Jesus? message to heart. As a privileged person, living in the wealthiest
society history has ever known, sometimes Jesus? message is so challenging
it makes my head spin.
Jesus? life and teaching affirm for me that all I have is pure gift
from God. My question is, do I always live as if that is true? They
say actions speak louder than words. Often, I fear that my choices
reveal a mistaken attitude of ?I?m entitled; I earned these gifts
through my hard work.? But, at its core, without God?s gift of life,
I would not exist.
Stated more positively, when I stop to think of how lavishly generous
God has been to me, I am filled with gratitude. Translating that
sense of gratitude into the way I live and the choices I make is
the real challenge. If I lived as if I truly believed that all is
gift from God, I would be much less possessive, much more generous.
Another message involves trust. I know God has provided us all we
will need. This is comforting, but challenging. I wonder if a disinterested
person, observing the choices I make, would conclude that I am living
out my belief that God will provide.
In light of these two realities, ?God gives us everything? and ?God
provides all that we need,? we are obligated to use only what we
require so there might be enough for all. It is hard to deny that
most Americans and Europeans take more than we need.
St. Basil the Great wrote: ?The bread in your cupboard belongs to
the hungry; the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to the
one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the
one who has no shoes; the money that you hoard belongs to the poor.?
At what point does working and saving for my own family?s economic
security conflict with the Gospel call to share with others in a
world where so many lack basic food, water and education?
These are challenging questions. But there are steps we can take
toward lives that more deeply display true gratitude and trust.
They require us to go against popular culture, to allow our faith
to inform our decisions and question our society?s materialism and
consumerism.
Those who give generously are taking a step in the right direction.
It would be impractical, however, to be totally unconcerned with
our future. By sharing their estate, those who give through their
wills and trusts return a portion of the gifts that have been given
freely to them. They are comforted that, should the money be required
for their own care, it is always available. They know that, at the
end of their lives, some of their estate will go to make the lives
of others better.
By recognizing God?s generosity and striving to trust in God?s providence,
I hope to make some sincere, if tentative, steps toward deeper discipleship.
Goode is director of planned giving for the Stewardship and Development
Department of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
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